Fall Commencement Speaker Announced

November 03, 2017

Robert L. Duncan, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System (TTUS), will deliver the commencement addresses during ASU’s fall graduation ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 16, in the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.

Robert DuncanDuncan will address graduates of the College of Education, Archer College of Health and Human Services, and College of Graduate Studies and Research in those academic fields during a 10 a.m. ceremony. He will speak to graduates of the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Business, College of Science and Engineering, and College of Graduate Studies and Research in those academic fields during a 2 p.m. ceremony. More than 600 ASU graduates are scheduled to walk the stage during the two graduation exercises.

As TTUS chancellor, Duncan is the chief executive officer of the system, which includes four component institutions – Texas Tech University, TTU Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and TTU Health Sciences Center El Paso. His focus is on providing each institution with the resources needed to achieve its mission. As part of his leadership, he also works in Austin and Washington, D.C., to increase funding and support for all system institutions. He was named the fourth TTUS chancellor in July 2014.

Prior to joining TTUS, Duncan served in the Texas Legislature for more than two decades. He was elected to represent District 84 in the Texas House of Representatives in 1992, and then in 1996, he won a special election to the Texas Senate. He represented District 28 in the Texas Senate until resigning to become TTUS chancellor.

As a state senator, Duncan crafted major legislation impacting Texans and served on three of the Senate’s most powerful committees – Finance, State Affairs and Budget Conference. He served as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate during the 81st Legislative Session and was a member of the Committee on Higher Education, Education Committee and Natural Resources Committee. He was widely recognized as a leader in the Texas Legislature, and Texas Monthly magazine named him to its “10 Best List” more times than any other legislator.

Additionally, Duncan was also a partner in the Crenshaw, Dupree and Milam law firm in Lubbock for more than 25 years. He advised clients in insurance law, commercial litigation and many other legal areas, and he remains of counsel for the firm.

A native of Vernon in West Texas, Duncan earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas Tech University in 1976 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the TTU School of Law in 1981. His uncle, Marshall Formby, and cousin, Clint Formby, both served on the TTUS Board of Regents.